It seems like yesterday when WWE star Mr. Kennedy produced his first big WrestleMania moment in Detroit by grabbing the briefcase above the ladder -- signifying his spot in the title spotlight.
WrestleMania 23, two years ago, Mr. Kennedy won the Money In The Bank Ladder match and the prospects of winning a major WWE title. Soon after, Mr. Kennedy's joy turned to sorrow as a right tricep injury forced him to relinquish the all important briefcase, which carried a title match enforced anytime.
''They can never take that moment [winning the briefcase at WrestleMania 23] away from me,'' Mr. Kennedy said. ``Things happened the way they did, and I ended up losing the briefcase because of an injury.''
Winning the briefcase from Mr. Kennedy, In essence, Edge took Mr. Kennedy's ball and ran with it as he won his first world heavyweight title.
''I tend not to dwell on the past and instead look forward,'' Mr. Kennedy said. ``I learn from my mistakes. Obviously, that wasn't really a mistake; it was something I had no control of, and I would like to get the opportunity to redeem myself.
``That's all I need is opportunity. Given the right opportunity, I can make a lot of money for this company and hopefully make a lot of money for myself and entertain fans.
``That's what we do. That's what we strive for. We strive to be the best. I do. I look forward to coming back and blowing the roof off the building.''
That will have to wait.
During WrestleMania 25 Weekend in Houston, Mr. Kennedy stood disappointed in front of a press gathering, hosted by THQ, the makers of the latest video game WWE Legends of WrestleMania.
Who could blame him. Another injury, this time his shoulder in August, kept him from competing for several months including missing the silver anniversary event.
''It's been eight months,'' said Mr. Kennedy, 33, a former U.S. champ. ``I'm pretty much tired sitting at home, missing out on the big event. I was really hoping to be back for it, but let the chips fall where they may.''
The day after WrestleMania 25, Mr. Kennedy was scheduled to visit Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala.
''Hopefully, he's going to tell me that I can return to action,'' Mr. Kennedy said. ``I've got a little issue with my shoulder. I've been going to see a physical therapist three times a week. I spend an hour and a half, two hours a visit.
``She's beating the ^%#@ out of me. It hurts. She's always telling me to quit whining like a baby.''
Mr. Kennedy has an issue with `a certain plain of motion.'
``I'm going to find out from Dr. Andrews if that's going to be a permanent thing, and I'll have to deal with it, or if there's something more that we can do.''
Mr. Kennedy believes he can work around it, if there is something physically problematic which will remain with him for the rest of his life.
''I don't want to do that,'' he said. ``I'd rather be 100 percent, but you got to do what you got to do in this business because the bottom line is this business is going to keep rolling with or without me.
``I'd rather be a part of it and contribute. I think I have a lot to contribute because there are a lot of things that I have yet to accomplish that nobody really has seen out of me.
``I just want to get back in there and get after it -- win some championships, main event at WrestleMania. I say it year after year after year. If it takes me 10 years to do it, I'm going to do it.''
When wrestling is not an option for Mr. Kennedy, he has other plans.
''I don't know if I have the talent to be a play-by-play announcer, necessarily,'' said Mr. Kennedy, a former public address announcer during his teen years at Washington High School in Two Rivers, Wis.
``That's a pretty fast-paced environment, My brain doesn't work that fast. I would definitely like to continue in the business in some form or another. I see myself more as a teacher, wrestling trainer.''
After testing the general workforce, Mr. Kennedy made his pro wrestling debut in 1999.
''I was a personal trainer, when I was in the real world,'' he said. ``I've always enjoyed helping people along and passing what knowledge I have onto other people. I'd like to help out, give back to the younger generation coming up.
''I shouldn't talk like that now because I'm relatively young myself,'' said Mr. Kennedy, 33, ``but I know I'm not getting any younger. So I see myself stepping in a role like that.''
Mr. Kennedy learned through the developmental ranks.
''I have a definite passion, understanding and love for that system,'' he said. ``When I was in development [Ohio Valley Wrestling, WWE's former feeder group in Louisville], I saw so many guys come up and really hit it. Guys who had a lot of potential -- Bobby Lashley, CM Punk, Brock Lesnar, Shelton Benjamin, Randy Orton.''
Florida Championship Wrestling, based in Tampa, Fla. is the current feeder home to WWE.
''I think right now we've got a great developmental system,'' Mr. Kennedy continued. ``We got some really good stuff going on in FCW, and it's just a matter of time. You've got to be in the right place at the right time -- get seen.''
And get heard.
``As in the case of yours truly, sometimes it's the stupidest thing you'd never think of in a million years -- like whoever thought that by me saying me last name twice while announcing myself that I would become a WWE superstar?''
Paul Heyman did. While working in OVW, the former leader of the original ECW suggested Mr. Kennedy do just that.
''I didn't really change anything as fas as the way I worked,'' Mr. Kennedy said. ``Obviously, I've gotten better and learned things, working with guys like Triple H and Shawn Michaels and Undertaker and Batista. You learn stuff, but for the most part, I didn't really change too much.
``I just started saying my last name twice, and five weeks later, I was hired. That was four years ago.''
• Mr. Kennedy discusses the past and future.
``I think Joe Hennig is a tremendous talent.''
Hennig, who is the son of Mr. Perfect Curt Hennig, is in FCW.
''Before I got into WWE, I went to a wrestling school in Minneapolis, run by [former U.S. Olympic and pro wrestler] Brad Rheingans,'' said Mr. Kennedy, who was born in Minneapolis. ``I was there when Joe took his first bumps, and I remember thinking that guy is a chip off the old block. He's just a natural athlete. He's got a lot of gifts you just can't teach anybody.
``You either have it or you don't, and I think Joe has it. I'm really pulling for him.''
Mr. Kennedy also has it, and it's only a matter of time before he returns to WWE, and when he does, the roof better have extra support.
• Mr. Kennedy attended the WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Saturday evening, April 4 at the Toyota Center in Houston. He watched his favorite wrestler and friend Stone Cold Steve Austin receive Hall of Fame status.
''I told him I'm kind of sad,'' Mr. Kennedy said. ``It kind of cements the Austin era. It comes to a close.
``I'm a huge Brett Favre fan, and when he finally decides that he's retired for good, it's sad. When Joe Montana retired, it's sad. The fact The Rock is no longer with us. It's sad. You miss them. Those guys brought something to the table that nobody else had.
``Again, there's that intangible. You can't train somebody how to do that. They just have it.
``I'm very happy for [Stone Cold] and excited he's inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. It's a great honor. His name will be next to many great performers in the history of our business.''
|